Evaluation of Self-Care in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Aim: This descriptive study aimed to evaluate self-care in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Material and Methods: The study was conducted with 151 individuals who were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in an ophthalmology clinic of a city hospital, met the specified criteria and admitted to participate in the research. A questionnaire form and Diabetes Self-Care Scale (DSCS) were used to collect data. Results: In this study, the mean DSCS score of patients with diabetic retinopathy was found as 94.2±23.7. There is a weak negative correlation between the DSCS score and fasting and postprandial plasma glucose (p0.05). Conclusion: In this study self-care scores of patients with diabetic retinopathy were observed to be acceptable and high level. A weak negative correlation was determined between DSCS scores and fasting and postprandial blood glucose. It is recommended to evaluate patients with diabetic retinopathy in a holistic manner, determine their self-care levels, and make plans and practices to improve their self-care.